Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Current projects
Elaboration of one-phase scheme for hydrolysis of starch-containing raw material by thermostable amylases
• Financing organization (sponsor): Knowledge Foundation
• Project manager: Giorgi Kvesitadze
• Project duration: 01.03.2014-28.02.2016
• Project annotation: The goal of the project is selection of strains, producers of active, thermostable amylases, optimization of their cultivation conditions, obtaining of technical preparations of amylases and establishing of their main physico-chemical characteristics. Perfection and intensification of degradation process for starch-containing substrates (maize, potatoes, buckwheat, barley, oats) to glucose by mentioned enzymes.
Conversion of lignocellulosic wastes of agroindustrial complex into biomass rich in nontoxic proteins and other vital components via fungi
• Financing organization (sponsor): Knowledge Foundation
• Project manager: Lali Kutateladze
• Project duration: 01.04.2014-31.03 .2016
• Project annotation: The goal of the project is elaboration of biotechnology for conversion of cellulose- containing wastes of agriculture and food industry to obtain microbial biomass rich in biologically active compounds.
Establishing of efficacy of biosurfactants isolated from soils of Georgia on washing process
• Financial organization (sponsor): Project of Knowledge Foundation (2014-2016)
• Project manager: Nino Gagelidze
• Project duration: 01.03.2014-28.02.2016
• Project annotation: The goal of the project is to select bacteria, producers of effective biosurfactants for the formation of wide spectrum of detergents, elaboration of technology for isolation, cleaning and application of surface active compounds.
Study of the action spectra of bacteriophage specific to Xanthomonas vesicatoria specific bacteriophage causative of tomato bacterial spot in Georgia on the pathogen strains isolated from different geographical locations
• Funded: CODNA Fund
• Project manager: Tinatin Sadunishvili
• Project duration: 01.04.2014-31.03.2016
• Project annotation: Project aims to study the action spectra of bacteriophage specific to Xanthomonas vesicatoria specific bacteriophage causative of tomato bacterial spot in Georgia on the pathogen strains isolated from different geographical locations, obtained from NCCB.
International Partner Project P499
"Biosorbentagainst Chemical Contamination of Soils – Creation of New Remediation Technology"
• Funded by GIPP Program, of Energy Department of USA
• Project manager – Tamar Varazi
• Project duration – 01.04.2012-01.04.2014
• Annotation: The goal and novelty of presented project is to complex application of natural mineral rocks as a sorbent for toxicants, bacterial consortia for biodegradation of them and selected plants for assimilation and transformation metabolites of organic pollutants.
Evaluation of certain microbial strains and certain plant components for potential commercial application.
• Funded: PIONEER Hi-Bre International, Inc.
• Project Director: Giorgi Kvesitadze
• Project duration: 01.04.2010 - 30.09.2014.
• Project annotation: Project is realized in collaboration with Kanchaveli Institute of Plant Protection. The aim of the project is screening of microorganisms and plants for proteins with insecticidal activities. Microbial culture collections have been renewed. More than 2300 plant samples have been collected in different regions of Georgia. 1500 Plant frozen samples and 28 lyophylized samples have been shipped to sponsor. Protein enriched extracts have been prepared. Protein extracts are incorporated into the diet of laboratory-grown insects and bioassays are conducted by Kanchaveli Institute of Plant Protection.
Reinforcing Georgian international cooperation capacities in the field of Food and Biotechnologies (BIOPARTNERS)
• Funded by: the European Commission, under the 7th Framework programme (FP7)
• Project Coordinator: Giorgi Kvesitadze
• Duration of the Project: 01.01. 2012 - 01.01. 2015
• Project Abstract: BIOPARTNERS project gives Georgia the possibility to improve the research activities of their highest quality in the FP7 thematic priority "Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology. The project includes several main types of activities (twinning activities, larger-scale networking & brokerage activities, exchange of researchers and young specialists and organisation of joint events) thus forming a coherent plan for improving the capacities of Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Agricultural University of Georgia (DIBBAUG) in a number of fields relevant to the FP7 thematic priority "Food, Agriculture & Fisheries, and Biotechnologies". In this project the partners of DIBBAUG are University of Murcia (Faculty of Biology) and the S&T specialist -INNO( France)
Targeting of detoxification potential of microorganisms and plants for cleaning environment polluted by organochlorine pesticides
• Funded by STCU – SRNSF
• Project manager – Maritsa Kurashvili
• Project duration – 01.09.2012-01.09.2014
• Annotation: The goal of presented Project is development of effective, ecologically friendly biotechnological approach for cleaning of environment polluted by organochlorine pesticides that have high toxicity and stability. The aim of this approach is the targeteduse of plants and microorganisms with high detoxification potential and corresponding capabilities for completely removingthese pollutants from environment and their full detoxification.
International Collaboration with Atlanta University (2014 – 2015) First stage of the Project. "Evaluation of Ecological Potential of "Zoisiagrass" and "Paspalum" for Application in Phytoremediation"
• Funded by "Knowledge Fund" of Georgian Agricultural University
• Project manager – Tamar Varazi
• Project duration –01.09.2014-01.09.2015
• Annotation: The goal of presented project is to study enzymes of Zoisiagrass and Paspalum, which are responsible to transform and detoxified ftororganic compounds, DDT, TNT, Hexadecane and benzopyrene. After evaluation of the detoxification potential of above mentioned plants will be elaborated new approach of phytoremediation by using these plants.